Andhra`s Rachchabanda programme faces opposition in T`gana

The Andhra Pradesh government is embarking on a 15-day mass contact programme "Rachchabanda" even as the state’s coffers remain dry and the opposition parties are ready to corner the administration on various issues.

Hyderabad: The Andhra Pradesh government is embarking on a 15-day mass contact programme "Rachchabanda" from tomorrow even as the state’s coffers remain dry and the opposition parties are ready to corner the administration on various issues.

Large trouble is expected particularly in the Telangana region where all the parties, including the Congress, have threatened to disrupt the programme.

Though state Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy wanted all people`s representatives right from a village ward member to a Member of Parliament to take active part in the programme and tour every village across the state, the Congress MPs and MLAs in Telangana are reluctant to participate fearing backlash from pro-statehood agitators.

In Andhra and Rayalaseema regions, more than 30 MLAs, a handful of MLCs and at least two MPs, who owe their allegiance to rebel leader Y S Jaganmohan Reddy, too are expected to skip what the Chief Minister called `a prestigious programme`.
In fact, ministers hailing from Telangana region themselves are worried over the possibility of trouble breaking out during Rachchabanda. They had already tasted the ire of statehood-seekers while conducting preparatory meetings for the event.
The Chief Minister, who will launch the programme at Rajam in Srikakulam district on north-coastal Andhra tomorrow, appeared unperturbed over all this and appealed to all political parties not to create any trouble since the programme was aimed at delivering benefits of welfare schemes to the poor and the needy.